Taxonomy and Evolution

Sea turtles, along with other turtles and tortoises, are part of the order Testudines. All species except the leatherback are in the family Cheloniidae. The leatherback is the only extant member of the family Dermochelyidae.

In general, sea turtles have a more fusiform body plan than their terrestrial or freshwater counterparts. The reduced volume of a fusiform body means sea turtles can not retract their head, legs, and arms into their shells, like other turtles can.

The species are primarily distinguished by their anatomy: for instance, the prefrontal scales on the head, the number of and shape of scutes on the carapace, and the type of inframarginal scutes on the plastron.

The leatherback is the only sea turtle that does not have a hard shell. Instead, it bears a mosaic of bony plates beneath its leathery skin. It is the largest sea turtle, measuring 6 to 9 feet (1.8 to 2.7m) in length at maturity, and 3 to 5 feet (0.91 to 1.52m) in width, weighing up to 1,500 pounds (680kg). Other species are smaller, being mostly 2 to 4 feet (0.61 to 1.22m) and proportionally narrower.

My Sea

On a night like this my head is spinningDemons crawling on the inside of my chestEverything in green looks rather yellowI wish some of these thoughts would take a restThe shimmering subtle feelingOf you breathing on me in your sleepAnd every breath you takeIt wisks away a shadow from my seaRight behind my eyes they’re dancing slowlyThey know me far too well I don’t know themI see their scarlett dresses and pale masks ohI know that soon they’ll all be back again